What Is A Subordinating Conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects an independent

clause to a dependent clause. An independent clause can stand alone as a
sentence.
The sentence "The student failed the test" is an example of an independent
clause.
A dependent clause adds extra information to the main clause. These
clauses cannot stand by themselves and their meaning is dependent on the
independent clause. They are not complete sentences.
For example, "because she didn't study" is not a complete sentence.
However, combine the two clauses, and we have "The student failed the test
because she didn't study." A complete idea has been expressed and enough
information has been presented to fully explain the thought. What joined the
two clauses? The word “because.” And there we have our first subordinating
conjunction.

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

In English, there are a lot of subordinating conjunctions. Let’s take a look at
the most common ones, along with a few examples from some classic songs:
 After - “Your heart will break like mine, and you’ll want only me after you’ve gone” (Ella
Fitzgerald)
 Although - “Although I’ve been here before, he’s just too hard to ignore” (Amy Winehouse)
 As - “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there’s
nothing left” (Coolio)
 As long as - “I don’t care who you are, where you’re from or what you did as long as you love me”
(Backstreet Boys)
 Because - “I’m everything I am because you loved me” (Celine Dion)
 Before - “Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby”
(Juice Newton)
 Even if - “Even if the sky is falling down, you’ll be my only” (Jay Sean)
 If - “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me” (Chicago)
 Once - “Once in a blue moon, something good comes along.” (Van Morrison)
 Now that - “Baby, now that I’ve found you, I won’t let you go” (Tony Macaulay/John MacLeod)
 Since - “I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you” (B.B. King)
 Though - “Walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown” (Rodgers and
Hammerstein)
 Unless - “We’re never going to survive unless we get a little crazy” (Seal)
 Until - “I’ll keep on dreaming until my dreams come true.” (Charlie Louvin)
 When - “When I see you smile, I can face the world” (Bad English)
 Where - “There’s a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I know where I’ve been” (Scott
Wittman)
 While - “I look at the world, and I notice it’s turning while my guitar gently weeps” (The Beatles)
You’ll notice that when a dependent clause precedes an independent clause,
there’s a comma between the two, indicating the beginning of the
independent clause. However, when the independent clause comes first,
there’s usually no need to separate the two clauses with a comma.